Millville football: White amped for Clan

Nov. 27, 2013

Antoine White

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Question: What does the Vineland-Millville rivalry mean to you?Answer: With the cities being so close, it always brings a lot of emotion out of the players, the coaches and our town. I feel like the rivalry just gives us a chance to defend against the town next to us and try to be the better team and town. Q: What do you remember about the first time you saw a Vineland-Millville game?A: My freshman year I got pulled up to varsity. I didnít play because it was the last game for the seniors, but thatís the first time I actually got to see what it was. As a freshman, you donít get it as much as you do as you progress through the years. Q: What has been your best memory of Millville football so far?A: Iím going to say probably my first sack. Sophomore year against Middle Township, that was probably one of the best moments Iíve had in high school. Q: What is the atmosphere like in school during Thanksgiving week?A: Even though we had a playoff game (Friday), there was already signs up about the Thanksgiving game at school, everyone was wearing Thanksgiving T-shirts and getting ready for the spirit parade. The atmosphere in school is almost like the same atmosphere youíd get on game day. Q: What is Thanksgiving morning like for you? A: Itís funny because I normally canít sleep the night before because of all the anticipation. Iíll always text Berto (quarterback Roberto Rivera) or Iíll text (middle linebacker) Ed (Shockley) the night before the Thanksgiving game. Going into the game, itís not hard to get up in the morning at all to get ready to play Vineland. Q: What is your No. 1 concern heading into the game? A: Containing the speed guys they have. They do have speed backs and they have a couple wide receivers. I think just staying level-headed, not getting ahead of ourselves and respecting the football team that they are and the coaching staff that they have, and realizing that they have athletes on their team. Q: What advice would you give younger players that are coming up in the Millville program?A: Not even about the football aspect, but from the academic standpoint. What it all comes down to is the first thing colleges ask ... how are his grades? If they know youíre a player, the first thing they want to know is if youíre coachable and you have good academics. Basically, the classroom does matter. Football isnít everything, and at some point youíre going to have to use your knowledge to give yourself an advantage. Q: What do you know about Vineland offensive lineman Jamil Demby?A: I remember seeing him on a recruiting trip and thinking heís a physical guy. On the one-on-oneís, he was always jumping up for reps. For someone who was new to that type of atmosphere, he handled himself real well. He did a great job there, and you can tell he has a motor on him when it comes to offense.

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If youíve watched Millville High School two-way lineman Antoine White the past couple Thanksgiving Day games against rival Vineland, itís easy to see he has a bright future ahead of him.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound senior has helped anchor the Thunderboltsí offensive and defensive lines each of the past three seasons, and will take his talents to Penn State University early in 2014 courtesy of early enrollment in hopes of making an impact for the Nittany Lions football program in the fall.

In White, Millvilleís up-and-coming players have someone to model themselves after on and off the field. Though Whiteís days in a Millville uniform come to an end today, he wonít soon forget his time as a Bolt or his perfect record against the Fighting Clan in high school.

White took some time out last week to chat with The Daily Journal about playing for Millville and what Thanksgiving and the annual game against Vineland mean to him.

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